On the cover of MOJO’s always-essential Best Of The Year issue – The Smiths: the ultimate alternative rock band re-illuminated by drummer Mike Joyce’s fascinating new memoir. Inside: the 75 Best New Albums Of 2025, including face time with Pulp, Van Morrison, CMAT and more; the best reissues, music books and films; Nick Mason on Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, the chaotic birth of The Rolling Stones’ Black And Blue; Bob Mould’s Sugar – re-formation exclusive!; Dion – rock’n’roll original. Plus: D’Angelo; Mulatu Astatke; Snocaps; Jake Burns; Field Music; The Strawberry Alarm Clock; Steven Wilson; Ten Years After and more!
THIS MONTH’S COVERMOUNT CD is literally The Best Of 2025. Featuring some of the year’s best tracks by CMAT, Van Morrison, Paul Weller, Pulp, Wet Leg, David Byrne, Big Thief, Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy, The Tubs and more!
THE SMITHS It’s time the tale were told! With Mike Joyce’s memoir a timely reminder of his group’s unique gifts and tragically curtailed span, MOJO digs into their story to find new angles, and an unexpected cameo by Mick Jagger.
THE BEST OF 2025 The 75 Best New Albums, the 20 Best Reissues, Best Books, Film and Track Of The Year. Features Sly Stone, Nick Drake, Manic Street Preachers, plus catch-ups with Pulp, Suede, CMAT, Van Morrison, Paul Weller, Robert Plant, Jeff Tweedy and more.
THE ROLLING STONES How their Year Of Eight (at least) Guitarists resolved and Black And Blue emerged, bloody but unbowed. Plus ‘Tired Grandfather’ – the not-quite-inflatable penis!
DION The reigning Philosopher-King Of Rock’n’Roll on heroin, Phil Spector and coming out of the Bronx, punching up. “I had this drive in me, this anger, all my life.”
MULATU ASTATKE Catching up with the inventor of Ethio-Jazz on his final tour, and tracking his journey from Ethiopian coffee country, to Wales, London, New York and the world.
SUGAR The return of Bob Mould’s other great power trio, guitars blazing, hatchets buried and business unfinished. Plus, 1985: Hüsker Dü’s annus mirabilis.
REVIEWED Snocaps / Pink Floyd / Willie Nelson / Ed Harcourt / Kate & Anna McGarrigle / Faces / Thee Headcoats / Neil Young / Ólöf Arnalds / Kate Bush / Pet Shop Boys / Juliana Hatfield / Little Feat / Joshua Hedley / Cowboy Junkies / Iona Zajac / The Black Crowes / The Saints / Wings / Thee Headcoatees / Sorry / Sha La Das / Frankie Goes To Hollywood / James Hunter / Queen / Melody’s Echo Chamber / The The / Rufus Wainwright / The Gnomes / Madness / Beak> / Frank Sinatra
PLUS The beginning and end of Ten Years After / Jake Burns stays Stiff / How To Buy… Steven Wilson / The reel-to-reel revival / The Strawberry Alam Clock know what time it is / Horsegirl and Jacob Alon are Rising / Field Music turn 20 / The return of Flash Fearless (not forgetting the Zorg Women) / Farewell, D’Angelo, Ace Frehley, Chris Dreja, John Lodge, Dave Ball, Soo Catwoman… / All back to Zak Starkey’s
